It has been another whirlwind day on Republican blogs. Many see the death of the Republican Party due to the upcoming Illegal Immigration legislation. As I wrote in the wee hours of yesterday morning, they are entitled to their thoughts. I for one do not respond well to shrill rhetoric and tend to tune out those who believe they have the superior voice on any topic.

I found myself searching for reasonable attention to this issue and found it in the usual spots. I may not agree 100% with any of these individuals, however I am drawn to the respect they show both their readers and the process.

Captains Quarters where Mr. Morrissey writes:

As I wrote yesterday, this is about as good as we will get in this Congress. In fact, the Democrats probably had enough votes to pass something much more like a wide-open amnesty, given a few Republican votes in support of that and the relaxed attitude of the White House on immigration reform. The GOP did a pretty good job of holding the line and forcing the Democrats to include the border-first triggers, the reduction of the family interest, and the rest of what Kyl managed to retain.

It’s not great, and it’s not even very good. It’s not bad, though, and given our lack of strength in Congress and the White House on this issue, it’s a good deal that will strengthen our national security now rather than wait another two years to address it. To quote the Rolling Stones, you can’t always get what you want, but sometimes you get what you need. This is one of those times. (via Hot Air)

The Captain linked to this at Big Lizards which is a great overview of all the information which has been tossed about in several locations concerning this bill. While I appreciate all his efforts to consolidate what has otherwise been difficult to follow, I thought this paragraph was fantastic.

- I haven’t read anything on the subject by Michelle Malkin, the Center for Security Policy, nor Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-CO, 92%), and for a very good reason: their prior hysterical opposition to any immigration reform that even hints at anything other than a wall, imprisonment of employers, and mass deportations of 11 million illegals. They have collectively become “the boys who cried ‘amnesty!’” — at everything, without exception, that goes beyond enforcement.

Neither have I read the above individuals as I clearly remember what took place the last time this time bomb was addressed. IMHO these folks contributed heavily to the loss of both Houses of Congress in 2006. Leaving no room for opposing opinions or debate will never prove an answer to me.

Another person I admire for never jumping the shark on Illegal Immigration is Harold Hutchinson.
Here is a brief look at his commentary. Writing at Called As Seen:

We were never going to deport 12-20 million illegal immigrants. We can, however, fine them, make sure they pay their taxes, and find out who has been employing them and if not punish them, we will know who to keep an eye on.

Last but certainly not least the Anchoress who always writes with clarity.

For thirty years the immigration situation has been kicked down the road from one president to another. For most of that time, little was even said about it. Since 9/11 some folks have been demanding action but rejecting anything but the most extreme response. Lost in all of this is the fact that many, many folks here illegally came legally and then for one reason or another remained past their date. Lots of them have worked hard, lived responsibly and built lives and families here. Their humanity and ours demands that we find a way to make them productive citizens without “shipping them back” and disrupting whole societies.

Each of these individuals seems to understand that while we all have our personal feelings and opinions on this topic, there will never be the absolute answer many are demanding. I have no desire to throw the party of which I have been a member for many years under the bus because they chose to compromise with Democrats.

Now it is wait and see..what will the Senate debate produce in the way of a final bill and will the House find it acceptable? Will the President sign an end product into law? There will be ample time at each juncture to debate the fine points of this bill. This legislation could change direction many times between now and completion.

Personal thanks to all those whom I have linked. It was a pleasure to read calm, reasoned words on this explosive topic.